Apparatus for making toothed cutters and the like



Feb. 13, 19 40. J. H. HOWARD APPARATUS FOR MAKING TOOTHED CUTTERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 11, -l958 veterinarians-1040" Y 7 2,190,360

h mmus Tyres P TENT dFFlCE arrm'rus roa MAKING 'roo'rnim cur' rsnsnrm Johan. Howard, whittien calil. Application July 11, 1938, Serial s clams I I I 9 Claims- (cLzt'o-r-zs) This invention relates to the manufacture of "section to illustrate the ball and socket joint. toothedcutters, gears and the like, and relates F 8- 2 i8 8 P n w Of the template removed more particularly to means and methods 101- out from, the machine. Fig. 3 is a transverse deting or forming teeth in roller cutters, gears and tailed sect o View kenas indicated y line 5' similar articles. A generalobject of this inven- .3- on Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged fra tion is to provide a rapid, inexpensive'method. mentary vertical sectional view illustrating the and ,a simple, practical apparatus for providing connection between the arm and the roller.

s or cutting teeth in conical roller cutters, gears. It isbelieved that the method of the present I and other conieal'obieots. invention will be better understood following a 'In the manufacture of the roller cutters used detailed description of the apparatus y- 10 a on wellrock bits it has been the practice to ing out the steps of the method; Accordingly, either mill the toothed cutters fromsolid blanks I will proceed with a detailed description of a or to cast the toothed'cutters; The milling of typ al pr erred form of apparatus of the invenroller cutters is aslow operation unless extreme-Y ,tion and will then e ri he method as emly large, expensive heevy-duty'mimn p eemne ployed in connection with the operation of the r are employed. Buch millingoperations require apparatus; 7

"the use or special milling cutters and when it The machine or ap aratus of the present invenis desired to modifythe teeth shape or iz t is, tion illustrated in the drawing may be said to necessary to obtain newmilling cutters, This mp i al y. a a 0, p de ta II n is-ZusuaIIy 'accOinpanied by considerable delay. y the W011! W, a m e dep d n A other object of-thisinvention isto provid a. arm I! on the frame In, a cutting torch l3 carmethod for making toothed roller; cutters and like ed. by t e movable a I! and m a for articles that does vnot'necessitate [the empl y moving and directing the arm I! to cause the ment of "expensive, heavy; machinery. v r I torch 13 to cut teeth 'l.- in the work W. u Another object of this invention isto provide The frame III is a suppor Structure pr a method of the character mentioned utilizing a Vided t0 carry the movable arm ll I the so called ilame cutteror torch to former out, typical embodiment of the invention illustrated the teethin the work or blank. the frame Hi comprises a plurality of spaced 7 p I Another object or this invention is to provide upwardly conversing ss having t e uppe 7 'Q 5 m tho of the character mentioned useful in ends joined or connected at a central part I6. the manufacture of conical roller cutters,econical There may b three or more less It embodied in gears and similar conical artielesof, vario prothe frame Iii. Suitable feet I! are provided on rtiona. the lower ends of the legs IE to rest on the D 7 Another object of this inventionis to provide ppor r floor- It is'to be understood that a a compact and inel'tpensive apparatus for form- -the frame In may be of any suitable or coning or'cutting teeth in conical cutter and gears, venient construction and need not be of the Another object of this invention is to provide particuier construction illustratedanap aratus of the character mentioned that e pedestal H is provided to r y t work is adjustable to form teeth in conical objects .W and the means II for operating or moving the a of various sizes and to form teeth at various arm i2. In'the case illustrated the pedestal H 40 angles on such objects. I includes a base l8 and a post l9 projecting upw A further object-of this invention is to prowardlyjfrom the base It. The base I8 is adaptvide an apparatus of'the character mentioned edxtO t on t floor and the P s 9 is fixed that is substantially automatic and requires a Ito e b ee p 9 is preferably in iminimum of attention and manipulation. cal and axial alignment with the vertical center The various objects and featuresof my invenor. the frame part It. A collar 20 is removahly tion win be fully understood from the following s ur d to the post is adja nt s pp d a detailed description of a typical preferred form\ e Work W is adapted to be arranged on the e of device and manner of carrying out the method Post to rest on the 001194 A Screw y of the invention, throughout which description b 'fi 1n the upper end o t1he D l9 to 50 reference is made to the accompanying drawing, engage downwardly a ainst a washer 22 on the in which: 1 upper end of the work W. to hold the work. in

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus or place. a the invention with a portion of the frame broken In the typical application of the invention away and with a part appearing in vertical cross illustrated the work 'W is in the nature of a 5 devices or articles may be mounted on the post 28 is threaded on theboss 23 and engages about arm I2.

longitudinal axis of the arm I2. 'A suitable unifrusto-conical blank having flat upper and lower ends and a tapered periphery. The work W may be considered as the blank of a frusto-conical roller cutter to be used on a rock bit of the class employed in the rotary method of well drilling.

It is to be understood that work blanks or other I9 for cutting or formation by the machine. The work W is arranged on the post I9 to have its small end face upwardly.

The arm I2 is provided to support or carry the cutting torch I3. The arm I2 is an elongate member-having its upper end connected with the frame part I6. In practice the arm I2 maybe formed of angle iron or T iron. An enlargement or boss 23 is provided on the upper end of the The boss 23 is offset inwardly from the versal joint is provided between the frame part I6 and the arm I2 to provide for the necessary movement of the arm. This joint includes a socket 24 in the upper end of the boss 23am 9. ball 25 cooperating with the socket. The ball 25 is carried on the lower end 01 a bolt 25 passed through a central vertical opening in the frame' part I6. A nut 21 is threaded on the bolt 26 to secure theball to the frame part I6. A sleeve the ball 25 to retain the ball in cooperation with the'socket 24. It will be apparent thatthe arm 52 is suspended in the frame by the balland socket joint in sucha manner that it is free to move or swing as required. It will'be observed that the ball and socket joint connecting the arm I2 with the frame I9 is cfiset from the-longltudlnal axis of the arm so that the arm extends downwardly on what will be termed a cone angle or the conical angle of the work W.

The invention includes means for guiding or directing the arm I2. A square or flattened block 29 is provided or formed on the lowerend of the arm I2 and a guide yoke'30 is arranged on the pedestal post I9; to receive the block 29.

The yoke 30 is turnable on the post l9 and may rest against a suitable collar 3| on the post. The block 29 is free to slide or shift in and out of the yoke 30 relative to the post I9 so that the arm 29 is free to pursue a course around the vertical axis of the work W and is free to move in and out with respect to said axisfl The guide means just described allows the arm I2 to assume a position in any one of an infinite number of radial planes of the conical work W but prevents the arm I2 from swinging laterally or tangen tially relative to the cone of the work W.

The cutting torch I3 is carried bythe arm I2 so that its flame may act on the work W. The a present invention is not primarily concerned with the details of the torch I3 as any suitable or practical form of flame cutting torch may be utilized. The body of the torch I3 is held in a' ,arm I2 and is spaced between the upper and such as: the diameter of the work W; the relationship between the diameters of the template 2,190,300 a w I a I 38, to be hereinafter described, and the work W;

The cutting torch I3 is preferably adjust-I f able on the arm I2. A bolt or stud 35 projects:

The

etc.

outwardly fromthe clamp and is turnable rel ceived inan opening 36 in the boss 34 andthe The stud 35 projects outwardly Irom' arm' I2. a the arm I2 and a nut 31 is threaded on the stud to lock or retain the torch I3 in? the selected, position. Whenthe nut 31 is loosenedlthe torch I3 may be adjusted to any selected angular'posig. tion with'respect to the arm I2 and the vertical 5 axis of the work W. The oxygen and gas hoses 88 extend from theupper cndof. the torch II to their respective sources of supply (not shown). The means I4 for movingand directing the arm I2 automatically or mechanically moves. and M controls the arm I2 'in such a. manner that the torch'l3 caried by the arm cuts-teeth TJoIthe I I desired shape and character in the work W. The: means 14 includes the template 38 carried-by the 7 pedestal II. The template 318 may be inthe. nature of adisc and its periphery is shaped to" i cause the torch. I3 to make teeth or the'required shape in the blank or WorkWQ In the. case-i1} lustrated a "multiplicity of sharp peripheral; teeth 40 is provided'on'the template 38. The; template 38 is removably fixed or secured on the pedestal post I 9. to be coaxial 'or I concentric with "the, work W. A-splithollow boss.orcollar 4I-is clamped on-thepost I9 below the guide yoke 30 qandhas spaced upwardly projecting studs 42.

Prior to the arrangement or the collar3I the yoke: I

30, the. collar 20 and the workW on the :post I9,

the template 3a is slid downthe postlllto rest" on the clamp 4 I. :Openings 43 in the template 33 receive thestuds42 andxthumb nuts 44;;ar.

threaded: on the studs 42 to.;lock the templatein place. 7 N on the post I9 andzthe template 38 is likewise The collar or clampv 4| is nonrotatable 4o". fixed against turning; The-"template 3, 38. ar-

ranged asjust described occupies a horizontal plane adjacent and below the. lower I end of the; f

The means I4'iu'rther includes actuating mechanism for the movable arm I2.

reducingigear .or drive 46 associated with the motor. The motor is. preferably a variable speed motor and its circuit (not shown) 'is suit- I This i hanism includes a motor 45 anda's f ably controlled to provide for the desired*range 1:

of operating speeds. Themotor drivendrive.

carries or drives a roughenedor iknurled roller 41. The roller 41 projects from the upper'side of thepspeed reducingdrive '46 and is rotatable traction engagement with the edges or faces of the template teeth and this engagement causes the'motor,45 and1the associated parts to follow the paths of the teeth 40.;

The motor and the associated parts are mounted on the pedestal H tobe movable and -follow' the path of the roller 41 along the tem- 65 about a vertical axis; Theroller 41 ispositloned. to cooperate with the teeth .0 of the template 38. V The roller 41 is knurled or roughened to have aplate teeth 40. A sleeve 48 is turnable on the;

pedestal post I9 between spaced collars. 49 and has radlally'proje'cting arms 50. A bracket 5L carries the motor 45 and the drive 46 and has 9.

depending part 52 provided with-spaced projecting'arms 53.

The arms and53 are preferably 'matingor nesting relation. A pivot pin .54 passesthrough vertical openings in the arms 50 and 53;.to'connectthe motor bracket 5| with the motor" and the associated {drive ll'andithe roller 41. supported as just described are movable around and in and out with resoectto the pedwith the socket 56. The ball 51 is free to rotate in the socket and the stem 55 has a certain.

estal post It so that the roller". may cooperate with and'follow' the teeth. A

'A' connection is provided between the roller '41 and the torch carrying arm I? wherebythe bodily movement of the. roller is transmitted tothe arm and the torch II. This connectiorimay comprise a stem 55 projecting downwardly from the lower end of the arm I! or its block 29. VA socket 50 is'formed in the lower end'of the stem II and a spherical head or ball 51 is provided on the upper end of the roller II to cooperate amount oi-vertical movement with respect to the block 29 to allow for the relative angular movement between the arm l2 and: the roller 41' *during in andoutmovement of the arm. .It will l be seen that the cooperation of the ball 51 with the socket 56 transmits the bodily movement of the roller 41 to the :dependingmovable arm l2. Thus the -movement 01 .the roller along the template teeth 40 istransmitted to the torch 13.1 The template 38 may be magnetized to insure' a uniform engagement and traction be tween the roller 41 and thetemplate teeth 40.

slag deflector 58 is provided to prevent the slag resulting from-the flame. cutting operation, from falling into the template 3!, the roller 41, the motor 45, etc. The deflector maybe in the nature of a curved plate secured and disposed below the work W.

The operation of the apparatus and the method of the invention as carried out by the apparatus are as follows. When a template 38 of the desired configuration and the work W have been arranged on' the pedestal Ii as illustrated in the drawing the apparatus is'in condition for operation. If it is; desired to cut straight axial teeth '1 in the work W'the torch I8 is positioned as shown with its longitudinaleaxis in the angle riphery .-of the I conical work of the coneof the work W. Whenthe torch i3 and the motor .45 are from the torch cuts away W in the well-known mannerand theroller 41 rotates in contact with theefl'lts 'or' iacesof the template teeth 40 to direct' a'ndy;,advance the torch. It will be apparent how. the rotating knurled roller 41 engaging the. teeth 0 and the 'magnetized template 38 causes I e the arm I! to follow the path prescribed' by?the teeth and therefore causes the torch I to follow the same path. As clearly illustrated in Fig; ,1, the iongitudinal axis of the torch It includes or passes through the center of theball '25 and intersects the longitudinal axis of the work W at the same point. The longitudinal axisof the torch l3 also intersects or passes close to thepoint of engagement of the roller 41 with the teeth'lll. Because of this relationship of parts the torch i3 is operable to. out true axial teeth in the pe- W. described above the engagement of therotating roller 41 with the template teeth 40 produces in and out movement' of the torch I3fand relativelysl'ow' movement of the torch around therwork so that turnabl'e sleeve "on the 'postyil. The,

those skilled in the art or fall within the "of the following claims.

to the guide yoke 30 inoperation the flame the metal: of the work "the torch forms th riesof peripheral teeth T in the tapered blank or work W.

When the several T have been completed the motor 45 is de-energized and, the torch l3 turned urn-whereupon the work may. be removed from the post l9 and the operation repeated on work. If it is desired to cut teeth in'thework W the nut the, torch IQ is adjusted or a second piece-of pitched or inclined- 31 iszloosenedmi'd turned-about- H its longitudinal'axis tangential to-the adjacent theaxis of the stud 35jtohave element of the cone of thework W; 'In forming the inclined or pitched teeth T in the workW the above described procedure is carried out.

- From the above it will be seen that the method oi the present invention comprises thestationary. supporting or mounting of the work W, the suspension or mounting of the torch I3 at an angle to the cone of the work W ortangent to said cone, and the movement and directing of the torch [3 around the work and in and'out [with respect to. the work W to cut theteeth T therein.

Having. described only a 'typicalpreferred form of apparatus and manner of carrying out the method of my invention I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish' to reserve to myself any modiiications-orvariations that may appear to scope I claim:

1. Apparatus for cutting teeth in a conical blank comprising means for supporting the blank, a flame cutting torch, means supporting the torch at approximately the angle of the cone of the blank and for movement around and in and out relative to thelongitudinal axis of the blank, and means for moving and directing the torch in and out relative to said axis while moving itv around said axis and maintaining the torch at said angle during said movement to cut peripheral longitudinal teeth in the blank.

, 2. Apparatus for cutting teeth in a conical blank comprising means for supporting the blank, a supporting structure, a member supported by the structure for universal movement about a pointin the. longitudinal axis of the "blank, a flame cutting torch on, the member, and

actuating and guiding means for moving the member in such a manner that the torch forms axial peripheralteethin the blank.

3. Apparatus forcut'ting teeth in a conical blank, a flame cutting torch, means supporting the torch at approximately thev angle of the cone of the blank,

and in and out relative to the longitudinalaxis of) the blank, said means comprising a supporting structure, and an arm carrying the torch and supported by said structure for universal movement abouta point in. the longitudinal axis of the blank, and power actuated means for moving and. directing the arm.

4. Apparatus for cutting teeth in a conical blank comprising means for supporting the blank, a flame. cutting torch, means supporting the torch at approximately the angle of the cone of the blank and for movement around and in and out relative to the longitudinal axis of the blank, said means comprising a supporting structure,-an arm, means suspending the arm from the structure for universal movement about a point in thelongitudinal axis of the blank, and

means securing the torch to the arm to direct fblan k comprising for supporting the and for movement around 5. Apparatus for cutting teeth in a conical 7 blank comprising means for supporting the blank, a flame cutting torch, means supporting the torch at approximately the angle of the cone of the blank and for movement around and in and out relative to thelongitudinaltaxis oi the blank, said means comprising a, supporting structure, and an arm carrying the torch and a supported by said structure for universal move- I ment about a point in the longitudinal axis 3 of the blank, a toothed template, and means in a conical blank comprising a pedestal, a frame,

connected with the arm and cooperablep with the teeth of the template to move and direct the arm so that the torch cutsaxial teeth in the blank. 7 V i 6. Apparatus for cutting teeth in a conical blank comprising means forv supporting the blank, a fiame cutting torch, means supporting the torch at approximately the angle of the cone of the blank and for movement around and in and out relative to the longitudinal axis of the blank, said means comprising a supportingstructure, an arm, means suspending the arm from the structure for universal movement about a point in the longitudinalaxis of the blank; and

' means supporting the torch on the arm tor-adjustment about an axis transverse of the arm and to direct its flame against the blank. and

. means for moving and directing the to the flame to form axialteetlrontheblank. 1

7.. An apparatus for cutting peripheralrteeth 5 in a conical blankcomprising' apedestahla frame,- means supporting theblank on the pedestal,;an arm,- afcutting flame torch on the arm, means suspending the upper end of the arm' 'iromthe 'frame-fornniversal movement aboutia pointin the longitudinal axis of the blank vwhereby the l 0 torch lies in or adjacent the angle of the cone oi the blank, and means formovin'g, and directing.

the arm to cause thetorch to cutaxialperipheral' I teeth in'the blank. .g 8. An apparatus for cutting peripheral teeth 15 means the blankon the pedestal, an

arm, meanag'for suspending the arm from the frame ldr universal movement about a point: A

movingand directing the arm'sothat the tore cutsaxial peripheral teeth in the'blank. 5 9. Apparatus for shaping a conical blank'com prising means for supporting the blank, acutting' torch, means supporting the torch for uni-*- versal movement about a point in the longitudinal axis of the blank, and-actuating and idl axis while maintaini z torch at DP Qfl-U mately angle of the-cone ot the blank.'-'i' JOHN H. HOWA D, 7 

